[hasy]

Hello everyone,

I’m in the groove of applying to jobs again. I have this ONE extracurricular experience when I was in college that I really think I should take off my resume, since that experience was 2 years ago and I graduated over a year ago. But I don’t want to make my resume look empty. I want to do extracurriculars, I just don’t do it as much. I HAVE volunteered for comic con this past year but I was wondering if anyone else had put this kind of experience on their resume. Please share your thoughts on how to make a somewhat entry level grad’s resume look better.

Just a side note, I have a decent amount of experience but I was laid from a CPA firm. I have since obtained a temp-to-hire position but just applying to places as a contingency plan.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

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BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[EuroAddict]

I don't think that type of work would help at all on a resume. List any experience you have in the industry.

How old are you?

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[MaLoTu]

I think that if you had duties at comic con that could be beneficial to a company/firm, then I don't see the harm of including it. If you didn't really do anything to facilitate the event then it is probably better just to add it during he interview if you see fit.

[536FrenchmenStreet]

Here's my perspective, having read – quite literally – hundreds of resumes over the course of my career.

That document has about ten seconds to grab the reviewer's attention before they either decide to keep reading or move to the next one. Start out strong and include only those things which are directly relevant to the job in question.

Also – and I cannot stress this enough – proofread, proofread, and then have someone else proofread the text. Typos, mis-spellings, and grammatical errors make the applicant look sloppy.

p.s. I am completely jealous of your involvement in Comic-Con! What fun! My daughter and her friends do KatsuCon every year.

BEC: Fall 2016
AUD: Spring 2016
REG: Summer 2016
FAR: RETAKE

[monikernc]

this is a post for Skynet. waiting….

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[TheHoundThatRides]

You should have a bit of an easier time once you pass FAR since that will be a testament to your understanding of accounting. For now, polish your excel skills so you can list pivot tables and vlookups and whatnot as skills.

BEC - 78 (August 2015)
FAR - 80 (November 2015)
AUD - 73, 67. (Ok I gotta confess I was even more lazy this time around)
REG - August 27th, 2016

[Missy]

IMHO extracurriculars serve two purposes. The first is for a new grad, just to show they've done something besides eat chips and go to school. The second is networking, ComicCon is a good one because its fairly well known and who knows the person who sees your resume might find a way to break the ice with that. Nobody is looking for extracurriculars to translate to job skills.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Jdn9201]

I would leave Comic Con off of the resume. You have to think of your resume as a marketing tool, and every word has to help show why you are an ideal candidate for x job. Comic Con would be something interesting to break the ice with in an interview, but I don't see how that directly relates to accounting jobs. The volunteer activity from college I think could go or not go on the resume. I wouldn't include it at the expense of other experience that is more accounting-related.

I'm sorry to hear you were laid off from your past job. How long were you there? I'd go back through your duties, skills, and experience there. More importantly, was there anything that you did to improve processes, save time, or save money? Unless you were there for just a short time, I'd make the good parts of that job the focus of your resume. Good luck!

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[hasy]

@EuroAddict

I'm 23 so very new to professional stuff.

@536FrenchmenStreet

Volunteer! It may be too late for this year but you can definitely try it for next year. Watch out for the interest list following this year's comic-con. I made friends with this father-son duo and they've been doing it since his son was a kid. Totally planning to do this with my kids if I ever have any.

@TheHoundThatRides

Got it! I do single out my pivot and vlookup skills on my resume. Though I'm trying to learn macro right now.

@jdn9201

I was there for 5 months and it's okay. I've accepted that I made the mistake of not researching their firm more. However, I'm at a new place and they're awesome! So hopefully the grass is greener in a non-public accounting world.

Thank you EVERYONE for your comments!!

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

-

BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[Anonymous]

I would def put comic con on your resume..I was a proffessional mma fighter and have that on there..I cant count how many “experts” have told me to take it off and its unprofessional..But It seems to be a real selling point in interviews and gets me interviews with places and people id like to work with..IE not stiff accounting folk.

[monikernc]

Bump for skynet.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Skynet]

I can't disclose my Extracurricilar activities because they involve an A71 Ninja Costume, an Escort Service, Handcuffs, and the ATF.

[monikernc]

Skynet, i knew you wouldn't disappoint

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Author]

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